Taking a Break

In order to stave off the February doldrums, we went on a family excursion to Portland this weekend. Jeff had Friday off, so we packed up and drove the 3+ hours to that fun city. We went to Ikea and Powell’s Books, two of our faves. We stayed in a hotel with an indoor pool on Friday night. We went to the Children’s Museum on Saturday morning. It was so much FUN to get away together. It was so good for Jay, Rose, and me to get out of our ickle apartmental for 30 whole hours in a row.

How ‘bout some pictures?

Patiently riding in the cramped car.

Who said you need sun to wear sunglasses? (it was raining)

We need to get Jay a rain jacket of his own. Even though this is super cute. The hem of Jeff’s jacket hovered about one centimeter above the sidewalk, and Jay looked like he was gliding along while we walked back from Powell’s Books.

At Ikea, we got a pile of plastic dishes to replace our melted, damaged ones. This stuff is actually microwave safe! I’m sort of excited about it. After browsing books and furniture a-plenty, we went swimming at our hotel. I wish I had a video of Rose the tadpole kicking her little feet. Her soft round body was so buoyant and she wore a froggy green diaper in the water and kicked her feet like a dolphin. She was in heaven. Jay got dangerously brave and kept waltzing off the edge of the pool steps into deep water. We had to be pretty vigilant with him. We were all tuckered out after that.

Rose fell asleep first.

Jay was a close second.

Jeff and I stayed up a little later to watch another episode of BBC’s Dr. Who. heh.

Jay got us up bright and early. Jeff and I took turns running while Jay and Rose drew pictures on the Kindle Fire. I had the best run—I found a park with a springy, cushy bark-covered path and huge green trees. The air was cool and damp. I drank it all in and ran FAST. Therapy.

The Portland Children’s Museum was smaller than I expected, swarming with kids, and cost a small fortune to get in. But Jay and Rose loved it. It was a great indoor place to go in the winter.

Little builder

The kid grocery store was a hit.

The bossiest kids controlled the check-out and the other kids unloaded the shelves.

The plastic fruit was heavy and textured just like real fruit, so you can imagine that there was plenty of nibbling on the sly.

Rose loved this fake plastic ice/freezer section of the play grocery store. The only thing left in it was a clam. It got stuck on her knee.

The only Rose in the garden—way prettier than any ole daisy.

Building immunities. Moan.

Water!

There was a little age 3 and under room. Rose loved the slide, but she wasn’t patient enough to go around and climb up the steps.

Jay was in motion the whole 2.5 hours we were there.

Jay loved the train room, of course.

For lunch, we went to this lovely block downtown and browsed the various food carts/trailers/stands. We chose Indian food, and then walked to a Safeway with a café in it and ate our heaven. Jay had chicken strips from Safeway, and Rose had a PBJ. But their lucky parents had curry.

My Goa Curry Chicken on basmati rice with a fresh, hot naan on the side was beyond delicious—it was celestial. It was also huge. Jeff’s lamb curry was the same hugeness. We didn’t even want dinner that night. Mmmm. mmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmmmm. It was funny to eat something that gourmet with a plastic fork while sitting in a grocery store.

Then we drove home.